Curriculum
The five-year doctoral curriculum integrates coursework, clinical training, research, dissertation development, and supervised professional practice. Students progress from foundational clinical psychology training to advanced clinical practice and research, culminating in a doctoral dissertation and a full-time clinical internship.
The curriculum is currently under development. Course offerings, titles, descriptions, credit hours, and sequencing are subject to change as the program is finalized.
Year One | 30 Credits
Fall
Advanced Psychopathology
This course covers descriptive psychopathology and research on the etiology, epidemiology, dynamics and diversity issues of major adult psychopathology. It provides a thorough introduction to DSM-V-TR as a diagnostic tool. (3 credits)
Psychological Assessment and Testing I
This course surveys frequently used psychological tests of aptitude, interest, and personality. Test content, purpose, psychometric properties, administration, and scoring procedures are compared and evaluated. Issues of test use with culturally diverse populations are addressed. (3 credits)
Theories of Personality
This course will review major theories of personality. Modern systems are studied in view of their historical antecedents and current trends. (3 credits)
Pro-Sem I: Professional Ethics in Clinical Psychology
This course will cover the legal and ethical principles and standards of practice that psychologists have developed for the profession. (2 credits)
Fall Weekend Workshop
Introductory Intake Interviewing and Assessment Workshop
This is a basic course on the theoretical and practical aspects of the clinical assessment interview. Emphasis is placed on development of communication skills, rapport building, evaluation strategies, consideration of diagnostic data, cultural and ethnic diversity, the mental status evaluation, and the ability to organize information in written and oral form. (1 credit)
Winter
Elective (3 credits)
Spring
Social Bases of Behavior in Clinical Psychology
This course studies the social antecedents of human behavior. The main theories of social psychology are examined in relation to clinical psychology. (3 credits)
Cognitive-Affective Bases of Behavior in Clinical Psychology
This course examines cognitive and affective processes that affect behavior. Topics include information processing, memory, attachment, unconscious processing, schemata development, bias, self regulations, and attribution theory. The interface of cognition and affect will be examined in relation to issues in clinical psychology. (3 credits)
Psychological Assessment and Testing II
The course provides students with an understanding of advanced testing procedures and interpretation of cognitive and personality assessment techniques. (3 credits)
Pro-Sem II: Diversity and Multicultural Issues in Clinical Psychology
This course addresses ethnicity, race, gender, class, age, ability, sexual orientation, and oppression as they impact mental health and the provision of mental health services. Topics include psychosocial sources of prejudice; psychotherapy as reflective of cultural values; gender, racial, and ethnic socialization; and self-reflection on one’s own background as it influences clinical transactions. (1 credit)
Spring Weekend Workshop
Issues in Assessment and Interviewing
This course covers diversity issues and their implications for assessment and intervention. Specifically, it considers the psychological impact of gender, race, ethnicity, culture, religious preference, socioeconomic status, and sexual orientation. It includes exploration of common stereotypes and their impact on therapy. This course also includes an examination of innovative assessment methods for clients of diverse backgrounds. (1 credit)
Summer
Evidence-Based Psychotherapy Theory and Practice
This course focuses on research and clinical technique related to evidence-based practice in psychotherapy. It includes instruction on methodology, analysis, and synthesis of research on the efficacy and outcomes of psychotherapy interventions, as well as training in evidence-based counseling techniques from a variety of theoretical perspectives, including cognitive, behavioral, person-centered, and psychodynamic. Students gain an understanding of how research can inform what techniques to practice in the therapy encounter and how those techniques should be implemented with a variety of disorders and psychosocial issues. (3 credits)
Year Two | 31 Credits
Fall
Life Span Developmental Psychology
This course examines how developmental maturation and social learning shape personality, both in childhood and adulthood. Theory and research in social development and learning are covered in topics such as attachment, aggression, sexuality, morality and self-regulation, and self- concept. (3 credits)
Pro-Sem III: Substance Abuse Theory and Therapy in Clinical Psychology
This course provides a foundation for understanding clinical efforts aimed at the prevention and treatment of substance use problems. It examines major perspectives on the nature and etiology of substance use problems, and how those perspectives translate into social actions and clinical practices. (3 credits)
Clinical Practicum I
The practicum provides applied experiences in clinical-service activities to clinical populations. Assessment, intervention, and consultation activities are conducted under the supervision of doctoral level clinical psychologists in local professional agencies. The student is required to spend a minimum of 15 hours per week for one semester at a selected agency. (3 credits)
Case Conceptualization and Clinical Conference I
This course is designed for intensive clinical supervision in small groups. Students provide case presentations via written reports and case material in audio and audiovisual formats. The purpose of the seminar is the monitoring and development of student clinical competencies and special proficiencies. This is a companion course to the clinical practicum course. (4 credits)
Evidence-Based Psychotherapy Theory and Practice II
Students dive deeper into the research and clinical techniques related to evidence-based practice in psychotherapy. They will continue to review and discuss instruction on methodology, analysis, and synthesis of research on the efficacy and outcomes of psychotherapy interventions, as well as training in evidence-based counseling techniques from a variety of theoretical perspectives, including cognitive, behavioral, person-centered, and psychodynamic. (3 credits)
Fall Weekend Workshop
Current Issues in Clinical Practice
Clinical cases will be used to address topics such as preparing the psychotherapy session; establishing the frame; self-disclosure, and extra therapeutic contact. (1 credit)
Winter
Group Theory and Therapy
The group process provides an introduction to the theories and research pertaining to small group behavior. Experiencing group dynamics firsthand and processing these experiences provide opportunities to become familiar with factors which influence behavior in small groups. (3 credits)
Spring
Psychopharmacology
This course covers the basic science, theory, research, and clinical applications of psychopharmacology. It promotes the understanding of psychobiological processes in medicated patients and emphasizes the special psychotherapeutic requirements that relate to the currently prevalent combined therapeutic approach. The clinical issues are illustrated by case presentations and the review of the relevant literature. (3 credits)
Biological Bases of Behavior
This course covers theory, research, and applications for the following topics: structure, function, and disorders of the nervous system; physiological mechanisms. (3 credits)
Pro-Sem IV: Gender and Sexuality Issues in Clinical Psychology
Gender and sexuality issues are common concerns, both expressed and unexpressed, in psychotherapy. This course will familiarize students with gender and sexuality issues by examining the following:
- The concept of gender through current and controversial theories on gender, gender expression, and identity development
- Sexual orientation issues and gender/sexual socialization
- Transgressive gender identity
Included also is exploration of current sexual norms and values, with implications for constructed sexualities as well as treatment issues and interventions. (3 credits)
Clinical Practicum II and Supervision
The practicum provides applied experiences in clinical-service activities to clinical populations. Assessment, intervention, and consultation activities are conducted under the supervision of doctoral level clinical psychologists in local professional agencies. The student is required to spend a minimum of 15 hours per week for one semester at a selected agency. (4 credits)
Spring Weekend Workshop
Clinical Health Psychology
This course will define the field of Health Psychology and provides a conceptual overview of current assessment and treatment models. (1 credit)
Summer
Elective (3 credits)
Year Three | 29 Credits
Fall
Research Statistics in Psychology
This course covers the principles and techniques of descriptive and inferential statistical methods applied to psychological research and program evaluation. This course places a major emphasis on the interpretation of results and their implications for practice and/or policy. (3 credits)
Family Systems Theory and Therapy
This course will cover systems theory with emphasis on applications to marital and family therapy. General systems of theory, and conceptualizations from such schools as the Bowenian, Structural, and Strategic will be considered. (3 credits)
Clinical Practicum III
The practicum provides applied experiences in clinical-service activities to clinical populations. Assessment, intervention, and consultation activities are conducted under the supervision of doctoral-level clinical psychologists in local professional agencies. The student is required to spend a minimum of 15 hours per week for one semester at a se purpose of the seminar is the monitoring and development of student clinical competencies and special proficiencies. This is a companion course to the clinical practicum course. (3 credits)
Case Conceptualization and Clinical Conference III
This course is designed for intensive clinical supervision in small groups. Students provide case presentations through written reports and case material in audio and audiovisual formats. The purpose of the seminar is the monitoring and development of student clinical competencies and special proficiencies. This is a companion course to the clinical practicum course. (4 credits)
Winter
History and Systems of Psychology
The course covers the history of various psychological concepts (such as perception, memory, emotions, consciousness, self, mental illness, etc.) as interpreted by various scholars of the mind over time. (3 credits)
Spring
Research Design and Methods
The focus of this course is on research methodology and scientific thinking. It covers basic experimental designs (between and within groups), single subject experiments, group experimental designs, non-experimental designs (correlational research, case studies, meta-analyses), and program evaluation. Validity issues in research (internal and external) and research ethics are emphasized throughout. (3 credits)
Case Conceptualization Practicum and Clinical Conference IV
This course is designed for intensive clinical supervision in small groups. Students provide case presentations through written reports and case material in audio and audiovisual formats. The purpose of the seminar is the monitoring and development of student clinical competencies and special proficiencies. This is a companion course to the clinical practicum course. (3 credits)
Clinical Practicum II
The practicum provides applied experiences in clinical-service activities to clinical populations. Assessment, intervention, and consultation activities are conducted under the supervision of doctoral-level clinical psychologists in local professional agencies. The student is required to spend a minimum of 15 hours per week for one semester at a selected clinical agency. (3 credits)
Clinical Practicum IV
The practicum provides applied experiences in clinical-service activities to clinical populations. Assessment, intervention, and consultation activities are conducted under the supervision of doctoral-level clinical psychologists in local professional agencies. The student is required to spend a minimum of 15 hours per week for one semester at a selected clinical agency. (3 credits)
Summer
Clinical Competency Exams
Year Four | 6 Credits
As a culminating experience, students design and write a doctoral dissertation under the direction and supervision of the program faculty.
Fall
Dissertation Seminar
This seminar helps students to initiate the dissertation process in a small-group format under the guidance of a faculty member as a seminar leader. This seminar seeks to help students choose a dissertation topic and provides students with an overview of all the steps that must be completed in the dissertation process. (3 credits)
Spring
Dissertation Seminar
This seminar helps students to initiate the dissertation process in a small-group format under the guidance of a faculty member as a seminar leader. This seminar seeks to help students choose a dissertation topic and provides students with an overview of all the steps that must be completed in the dissertation process. (3 credits)
Year Five | Internship Year
Clinical Internship
A full-time, year-long supervised clinical experience in an approved setting, integrating advanced assessment, intervention, consultation, and professional practice.